Northland Rugby Union has now been in existence officially since 1920 – then known as North Auckland Rugby Union – following the amalgamation of Whangarei, Northern Wairoa, Bay of Islands and Otamatea initially and then followed by Mangonui, Kaipara, Hokianga, Whangaroa and Rodney in 1925. However, the first details of rugby matches played in the Northland area date back well into the 1870’s with many sub-unions affiliated to the Auckland Union long before the Northland Auckland Rugby Union was founded.